A MIL-Dot reticle refers to a standard, specific pattern of duplex crosshair reticles with four small 0.25 mil diameter dots placed along each axis. These dots are arranged to allow for range estimation. A trained user can measure the range to objects of known size, determine the size of objects at known distances, and compensate for both bullet drop and wind drifts at known ranges with a MIL-Dot reticle-equipped scope.

A MIL-Dot reticle is not to be confused with a Bullet Drop Compensating (BDC) reticle, which compensates for the effect of gravity on the bullet at given distances. However, a MIL-Dot reticle can be used to estimate an approximate hold-over, or perform an elevation adjustment of the scope, if the weapon and ammunition ballistics are also known.

A “MIL” relates to the U.S. military variation of a unit of angle known as a milliradian. The distance between the centers of any two adjacent dots on a MIL-Dot reticle scope equals 1 Mil, which is about 36" (or 1 yard) @ 1000 yards, or 3.6 inches at 100 yards. Trijicon MIL-Dot reticle is based off of the U.S. Army round mil dot version. The table below lists the distance subtended by one MIL at various ranges.

It is important to note that the MIL-Dot reticle is designed to be used at the highest magnification on Trijicon MIL-Dot second focal plane scopes. Therefore, the scope must be set at the maximum magnification setting (i.e. 9x for TR20-2, 10x for TR22-2) to utilize the reticle for range estimation.

Range (Yards)

One MIL
in Inches

Range (Yards)

One MIL
in Inches

100

3.6

Continued

150

5.4

600

21.6

200

7.2

650

23.4

250

9.0

700

25.2

300

10.8

750

27.0

350

12.6

800

28.8

400

14.4

850

30.6

450

16.2

900

32.4

500

18.0

950

34.2

550

19.8

1000

36.0

Once the scope is set to high magnification, the easiest way to range a target is to take the height (or width) of the target in yards or meters multiplied by 1000, then divide by the height (or width) of the target in MILs to determine the range to target. Of course the measurements can be taken in inches. The following examples illustrate this point:

If the same 6 ft target fits between any 4 dots on the reticle, then (2*1000)/4 = 500 yards is the distance to the target. If it is known that the weapon and ammunition combination being used results in a 36” (1 yard) drop at 500 yards with the present zero, then the shooter can hold 2 MILs high (recalling that 1 MIL = 36” (1 yard) at 1000 yards, and therefore 1 MIL= 18” (1/2 yard) at 500 yards) to achieve the desired point of impact on the target.

The MIL-Dot reticle can be most easily and quickly used if the shooter takes time before their hunting or shooting session to do the required math and create a table using the specific target size expected, and incorporating the ballistic information of the weapon and ammunition combination that will be used. An appropriate MIL hold-over or scope adjustment can then be made immediately after measuring the target in MILs. Following are two examples: